Systems and methods for providing information regarding resource consumption or environmental impact associated with usage of a computer

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to monitoring on the computing device resource consumption, storing resource consumption data obtained from the monitoring, receiving a request from the user for information regarding resource consumption or environmental impact associated with the user&#39;s operation of the computing device, and presenting to the user information regarding resource consumption or environmental impact.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/055,757, filed Jan. 25, 2011, which is the National Stage Applicationof PCT application PCT/US2008/073668, filed Aug. 20, 2008, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as though fullyset forth herein.

BACKGROUND

In the last several years, people have become more concerned with theirresource consumption and its impact on the environment. Such concernshave reached new heights recently with a backdrop of spiking energycosts and seemingly endless discussions of global warming.

While most persons have a general appreciation of the impact that theiractions have on resource consumption and the environment, many suchpersons do not appreciate the impact of their computer usage. Therefore,while a person may consider himself to be relatively environmentallyconscious because he adheres to “green” practices, such as lowering thethermostat in winter and raising it in summer, he may still unknowinglyconsume unnecessary amounts of energy and other resources with hiscomputer and its peripheral devices. In addition to lacking knowledge ofthe impact of their computer usage, such persons often do not know howto change their computer usage practices to reduce their consumption andthe environmental impact associated with that usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed systems and methods can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a computing deviceconfigured to provide a user with information regarding resourceconsumption or environmental impact associated with use of the computingdevice.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a computingdevice configured to provide a user with information regarding resourceconsumption or environmental impact associated with use of the computingdevice.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an architecturefor the computing devices of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for providing auser with information regarding resource consumption or environmentalimpact associated with use of the computing device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B together comprise a flow diagram that illustrates anexample of operation of a consumption/environmental impact reportingprogram.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic depictions of a graphical user interfacethat can be presented to a user.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a further embodiment of a method forproviding a user with information regarding resource consumption orenvironmental impact associated with use of the computing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, many persons do not appreciate the impact of theircomputer usage in terms of resource consumption or environmental impact.Furthermore, such persons often do not know how to change their computerusage practices to reduce that consumption or environmental impact.Disclosed herein are computers that collect data pertaining to theuser's operation of the computer and provide the user with an indicationof the user's resource consumption and environmental impact. In someembodiments, the indication comprises a relatively simple graphicalrepresentation of how well or how poorly the user is doing in conservingresources, such as electricity and paper, and reducing his or herenvironmental impact. In some embodiments, the user can opt to receiverecommendations regarding his or her computer usage practices that willreduce the user's resource consumption and environmental impact.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numeralsindicate corresponding parts throughout the views, FIG. 1 illustrates afirst computing device 100 in the form of a notebook or “laptop”computer. As indicated in FIG. 1, the computing device 100 includes abase 102 and a display 104 that are pivotally attached to each other.The base 102 includes an outer housing 106 that surrounds variousinternal components of the computing device 100, such as a processor,memory, hard drive, and the like. Also included in the base 102 are userinput devices, including a keyboard 108 that comprises a plurality ofkeys 110, a touchpad 112, and selection buttons 114. In addition tothose input devices, the base 102 further comprises a dedicatedenvironmental or “green” key 116 that can be selected to obtaininformation regarding resource consumption or environmental impactassociated with the user's operation of the computing device 100. Insome embodiments, the key 116 can literally comprise a physicalgreen-colored key to convey its association with environmental awarenessand impact. The display 104 includes its own outer housing 118 thatsupports a display screen 120, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)screen.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second computing device 200 in the form of personalor “desktop” computer. As indicated in FIG. 2, the computing device 200includes a main processing unit or “box” 202 and a display 204. Theprocessing unit 202 includes an outer housing 206 that surrounds variousinternal components of the computing device 200, such as a processor,memory, hard drive, and the like. The display 204 includes its own outerhousing 208 that supports a display screen 210, such as a cathode raytube (CRT) or LCD screen.

In addition to the processing unit 202 and the display 204, thecomputing device 200 includes a keyboard 212 that comprises a pluralityof keys 214, such as conventional alphanumeric and function keys. Inaddition to those keys 214, however, the keyboard 212 comprises adedicated environmental key or green-key 216 that, like the key 116, canbe green in color and can be selected to obtain information regardingresource consumption or environmental impact associated with the use ofthe computing device 200.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example architecture for oneor both of the computing devices 100 and 200. As indicated in FIG. 3 thecomputing device 100, 200 comprises a processor 300, memory 302, a userinterface 304, and at least one I/O device 306, each of which isconnected to a local interface 308.

The processor 300 can comprise a central processing unit (CPU) thatcontrols overall operation of the computing device 100, 200. The memory302 includes any one of or a combination of volatile memory elements(e.g., RAM) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., hard disk, ROM, tape,etc.) that store code that can be executed by the processor 300.

The user interface 304 comprises the components with which a userinteracts with the computer 100, 200. The user interface 304 at leastincludes a keyboard that comprises a green-key, such as green-key 116 or216. The one or more I/O devices 306 are adapted to facilitatecommunications with other devices and may include one or morecommunication components such as a modulator/demodulator (e.g., modem),wireless (e.g., radio frequency (RF)) transceiver, network card, etc.

The memory 302 comprises one or more computer-readable media that storevarious programs (i.e., logic) including an operating system 310, aconsumption monitoring program 312, and a consumption/environmentalimpact reporting program 314. The operating system 310 controls theexecution of other programs and provides scheduling, input-outputcontrol, file and data management, memory management, and communicationcontrol and related services. The consumption monitoring program 312continuously monitors the consumption of resources associated withoperation of the computing device 100, 200 and associated peripheraldevices, such resources including, for example, electricity and paper.

Responsive to detection of selection of a green button 116 or 216, thereporting program 314 provides the user with information regardingresource consumption or environmental impact associated with the user'soperation of the computing device 100, 200. As described below, thatindication can comprise a relatively simple graphical representation ofhow well or poorly the user is doing in conserving energy or reducinghis or her environment impact in association with his or her usage ofthe computing device 100, 200. In some embodiments, the determination asto how well the user is doing is made through comparison of theconsumption data collected by the consumption monitoring program 312 anddata contained in a best practices database 316 that specifies thepractices that are considered to be best in terms of resourceconservation or environmental friendliness.

Referring next to FIG. 4, illustrated is an embodiment of a method forproviding a user with information regarding resource consumption orenvironmental impact associated with use of the computing device.Beginning with block 400, a consumption monitoring program that executeson a computing device monitors operation of the computing device and itsperipherals and stores consumption data. In some embodiments, theconsumption monitoring program continuously accumulates and stores powerconsumption data, including the power draw of the components of thecomputing device during active use and during periods of inactivity(i.e., active and passive power consumption), the amount or percentageof time the computing device operates in a hibernation mode in whichcertain components are powered down during periods of inactivity, theamount or percentage of time the computing device operates in sleep modein which the display is powered down during periods of inactivity, theamount or percentage of time the processor is operating, usage ofperipherals (e.g., printers) and the consumption of resources (e.g.,paper) associated with that use, and any other information relevant tothe consumption of resources in association with operation of thecomputing device and its peripherals.

After some duration of such monitoring and storage, a user of thecomputing device selects the green-key, as indicated in block 402. Asdescribed above, the green-key can comprise a physical green-colored keythat is included with a keyboard of the computing device. In such acase, selection of the green-key would comprise the user pressing thegreen-key. Notably, however, the green-key can, in other embodiments,comprise a virtual key or other icon that is presented to the user inthe display of the computing device, such as on the virtual desktop orthe displayed task bar. In such a case, selection of the green-key wouldcomprise selecting (e.g., double-clicking) the icon using an appropriatepointing device, such as a mouse or a touchpad.

Once the green-key has been selected, the consumption/environmentalimpact reporting program 314, as indicated in block 404, presentsinformation to the user regarding one or both of the user's consumptionof resources and the environmental impact of that consumption associatedwith the user operation of the computing device and its peripherals.Notably, there is overlap between resource consumption and environmentalimpact. For example, the consumption of power by computer users in theaggregate increases the amount of electricity that must be generated bypower plants, which may use environmentally unfriendly materials, suchas coal, to generate that electricity. Furthermore, the consumption ofpaper by computer users in the aggregate increases the demand for paperand, therefore, can cause further deforestation. It is further noted,however, that information about resource consumption may be of interestto the user independent of environmental concerns. For example, due torising energy costs, some users may be more concerned with the costsassociated with their computer usage practices. Due to the overlapbetween resource consumption and environmental impact, however, theinformation presented to the user can simultaneously provide the userwith an indication of both aspects phenomena.

As described above, the information provided to the user can be conveyedin the form of a simple graphical representation of how well or poorlythe user is doing from an energy conservation or environmentalfriendliness perspective. In some embodiments, the graphicalrepresentation can comprise a graphic image of a tree, with the size orapparent health of the tree reflecting the user's operation of thecomputing device and its peripherals. By way of example, a small and/orwilting tree can signify high resource consumption and a negativeenvironmental impact, while a tall and/or robust tree can signify lowresource consumption and a relatively small environmental impact (or apositive environmental impact). Alternatively, how well or poorly theuser is doing with his or her usage can be reflected by a number oftrees, with a relatively small number of trees signifying high resourceconsumption and a negative environmental impact, and a large number oftrees (e.g., a forest) signifying low resource consumption and arelatively small environmental impact.

Many variations on the environment-centric graphical representation arepossible. For example, the graphical representation could comprise agiven number or carbon credits with a greater number of creditssignifying good practices and a lower number of credits signifying poorpractices. In other embodiments, the graphical representation can focuson energy consumption or costs as opposed to environmental impact. Forexample, the graphical representation could comprise a number of lightbulbs, with a greater number of bulbs signifying high power consumptionand therefore poor practices and a lower number of bulbs signifying lowpower consumption and cost and therefore good practices. As a furtherexample, the graphical representation could comprise stacks of currency(e.g., dollar bills) or gold coins with large stacks bills signifyinghigh power consumption and cost and high costs and therefore poorpractices and smaller stacks signifying low power consumption and lowcosts and therefore good practices. In some embodiments, the type ofgraphical representation presented can be chosen by the user as aconfiguration setting.

Irrespective of the form of the information that is presented to theuser, the user can quickly develop an appreciation of how well or poorlythe user is operating his computing device and peripherals from aresource consumption or environmental impact standpoint. Assuming theuser believes there is room for improvement, the user can then changehis or her computer usage practices and, after the passage of time(e.g., one or a few weeks), the user can again select the green-key tosee if there is any improvement due to the adoption of better usagepractices.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of operation of theconsumption/environmental impact reporting program 314 identified inFIG. 3. Beginning with block 500 of FIG. 5A, theconsumption/environmental impact reporting program 314 is activated. Asdescribed above, such activation can occur in response to the green-keybeing selected by the user. Next, as indicated in block 502, thereporting program 314 collects resource consumption data that has beenaccumulated by the monitoring program. In some embodiments, theconsumption data is contained in a table that is populated by themonitoring program. Regardless, the data provides an indication ofresource consumption by the computing device and its peripherals. Insome embodiments, the reporting program 314 collects only recent datafrom the table, for example, that accumulated over the last month orweek. In some embodiments, the period of time to be used can be selectedby the user as a configuration setting.

Once the reporting program 314 collects the consumption data, itcompares that data to best practices data, as indicated in block 504. Insome embodiments, the best practices data can be stored in a databasewithin local memory of the computing device and echoes best practicesestablished by a relevant authoritative or governing body. By way ofexample, the best practices data incorporates the 80 PLUS standardestablished by the U.S. Department of Energy. Irrespective of the basisfor the best practices data, that data identifies the usage practicesthat are considered useful in conserving resources and/or reducingenvironmental impact without being unduly restrictive. The comparisoncan take into consideration various specific practices followed by theuser. For example, the reporting program can consider how quickly theuser's computing device goes into a hibernation mode, how long theuser's computing device sits idle while plugged into a wall outlet (andtherefore passively consumes power), how many pieces of paper areconsumed by the user during printing, and so forth. Each of thosepractices can be individually compared with an associated best practiceto gauge how well the user conserving resources or controlling his orher environmental impact.

Once the various comparisons have been made, the reporting program 314presents the user with a graphical representation of how well the useris doing from a resources consumption or environmental impactstandpoint, as indicated in block 506. In some embodiments, the user ispresented with a graphical user interface in the form of a dialog boxthat includes the graphical representation. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustratesuch a dialog box 600. With reference to FIG. 6A, the dialog box 600includes a graphical image of a tree 602, which can as represent theimpact of the user's practices on the environment. In the example ofFIG. 6A, the tree 602 is a mere sapling and therefore conveys room forimprovement. In addition, the dialog box 600 includes a message 604 thatstates “You could do better” to underscore the message conveyed by thesapling.

With reference back to FIG. 5A, the user can further be presented withthe option to receive usage recommendations that would reduce the user'sresource consumption or environmental impact (block 508). As indicatedin FIG. 6A, such an option can be presented in the dialog box 600 as aselectable link 606 to information as to how the user can improve his orher computer usage practices. With reference to decision block 510 ofFIG. 5A, if the user does not wish to receive such recommendations, flowis terminated for the session. If, on the other hand, the user wishes toreceive recommendations, flow continues to block 512 at which therecommendations are presented to the user, for example in the dialog box600. The nature of the recommendations will depend upon the user'sparticular computer usage practices and, specifically, upon thosepractices upon which the user could improve and/or that would have thegreatest impact. Therefore, if, for example, the user does not have hisor her computing device set to automatically go into hibernation modeafter sitting idle for several minutes, the reporting program 314 couldrecommend a setting change to the user that would cause hibernation oroccur sooner. In some embodiments, if the user tends to leave his or herdesktop computer running for many hours when not being used, thereporting program 314 could recommend shutting the computer down whenimminent use is not foreseen. Another recommendation could be to unpluga notebook computer when it is not being used to reduce its passivepower consumption and extend its battery life. Yet anotherrecommendation could be to reduce boot time to reduce processor powerconsumption. Yet another recommendation could be to replace an outdatedcomputer if newer computers are significantly more energy efficient.

Irrespective of the recommendations that are provided, the user can thenbe presented with the option of running a simulation that assumesadoption of one or more of the recommendations, as indicated in block514 of FIG. 5B. With reference to decision block 516, if the user doesnot wish to run such a simulation, flow for the session is terminated.If, however, the user does wish to run the simulation, the user'sselections for changes to be used in the simulation are received, asindicated in block 518, and the reporting program 314 runs thesimulation and presents a further graphical representation to the user,as indicated in block 520. Assuming the changes the user selected have asignificant impact on resource consumption or the environment, thegraphical representation will reflect a significant improvement. Such animprovement is depicted in FIG. 6B, which in contrast to the smallsapling 602 of FIG. 6A depicts a mature tree 608 and further includes amessage 610 that states “Congratulations, you're doing great!” Theimprovement in the graphical representation not only provides a clearindication of how much better the user could do but further providesmotivation to the user to change his or her computer usage practices.

Assuming the user makes changes to his or her computer usage practices,the user should see similar signs of improvement when the green-key isselected in the future. Therefore, with each coming week or month, theuser can watch his tree grow tall and healthy, providing the user bothwith feedback as to how the user has improved in terms and a feeling ofaccomplishment. It is hoped that such feedback and that feeling ofaccomplishment will inspire computer users to operate their computers ina more conservation minded and environmentally friendly way that, in theaggregate, will have a significant impact on preserving the planet'sresources and environmental health.

FIG. 7 illustrates a further method for providing a user withinformation regarding resource consumption or environmental impactassociated with use of the computing device. The method comprisesmonitoring on a computing device resource consumption (block 700),storing resource consumption data obtained from the monitoring (block702), receiving a request from the user for information regardingresource consumption or environmental impact associated with the user'soperation of the computing device (block 704), and presenting to theuser information regarding resource consumption or environmental impact(block 706).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computing device comprising: a processor;and memory storing code executable by the processor to: monitor resourceconsumption of the computing device pertaining to a user's operation ofthe computing device; in response to a user action on the computingdevice requesting information regarding resource consumption of thecomputing device, present information regarding the paper and electricalresource consumption to the user, the information comprising a graphicalrepresentation comparing the electrical resource consumption data withbest practices data stored in a database within the memory, wherein thebest practice data is a target energy efficiency of a national standard;and provide a recommendation to the user regarding how the user canreduce the resource consumption.
 2. The computing device of claim 1,wherein the computing device comprises a laptop computer, and whereinthe recommendation is directed to extending battery life of a battery ofthe laptop computer.
 3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein thecode executable by the processor to receive a request from the user forthe information via selection by the user of a key, wherein the keycomprises a dedicated environmental physical key of a keyboard of thecomputing device.
 4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein to providethe recommendation is in response to the user opting to receive therecommendation, and wherein the recommendation is directed to at leastone of reducing the resource consumption, reducing cost of the operationof the computing device, or extending battery life of a battery of thecomputing device.
 5. The computing device of claim 1, comprising adisplay, wherein the resource consumption comprises consumption ofelectricity by the display, the processor, and the memory.
 6. Thecomputing device of claim 1, wherein the information comprisesenvironmental impact associated with the resource consumption, whereinthe graphical representation indicates how well the user is limitingenvironmental impact associated with the resource consumption, andwherein the code executable to run a simulation adopting therecommendation in response to the user requesting the simulation.
 7. Thecomputing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises adesktop computer, wherein the processor comprises a central processingunit (CPU), and wherein the recommendation comprises to replace thecomputing device in response to availability of a newer computing devicethat is more energy efficient than the computing device.
 8. A method bya computing device, comprising: monitoring, by the computing device,resource consumption of the computing device associated with a user'soperation of the computing device; storing, by the computing device,resource consumplion data obtained from the monitoring; receiving, bythe computing device, a request from the user for information regardingthe resource consumption; presenting, by the computing device, theinformation to the user, wherein the information comprises a graphicalrepresentation comparing the resource consumption data with bestpractices data stored in a database within the memory, wherein the bestpractice data is a target energy efficiency of a national standard; andproviding by the computing device, a recommendation to the userregarding how the user can reduce the resource consumption.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein receiving the request from the user comprisesreceiving the request via selection by the user of a key, wherein thekey comprises a dedicated environmental virtual key or dedicatedenvironmental icon displayed on a display of the computing device. 10.The method of claim 8, comprising detecting the user opting to receivethe recommendation, wherein the information comprises environmentalimpact associated with the resource consumption, and wherein thegraphical representation indicates how well the user is limitingenvironmental impact associated with the resource consumption.
 11. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the resource consumption comprises energyconsumption, and wherein providing the recommendation is in response tothe user opting to receive the recommendation.
 12. The method of claim8, wherein the computing device is a laptop computer, and wherein therecommendation is directed to extending battery life of a battery of thelaptop computer.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the computing devicecomprises a display, internal components, and a housing surrounding theinternal components, the internal components comprising a processor andmemory, wherein the resource consumption comprises energy consumption ofthe display, the processor, and the memory, and wherein therecommendation is directed to reducing electrical consumption of atleast one of the display, the processor, or the memory.
 14. The methodof claim 8, wherein the computing device comprises a desktop computer,and wherein the resource consumption comprises paper consumption by aprinter associated with the computing device.
 15. The method of claim 8,wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer or a notebookcomputer, and wherein presenting the information comprises running asimulation.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprisinglogic executable by a computing device to: monitor resource consumptionof the computing device associated with a user's operation of thecomputing device; store resource consumption data of the resourceconsumption; receive at the computing device a request, based on a useraction on the computing device, for information regarding the resourceconsumption; present to the user, in response to the request based onthe user action, paper and electrical resource consumption and agraphical representation comparing the electrical resource consumptiondata with best practices data stored in a database within the memory inresponse to the request, wherein the best practice data is a targetenergy efficiency of a national standard; and provide a recommendationto the user regarding how the user can reduce the resource consumption.17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein to receive therequest comprises to detect selection by the user of an environmentalicon of the computing device.
 18. The computer-readable medium of claim16, wherein the resource consumption comprises energy consumption ofcomponents of the computing device, the components comprising a displayand internal components, the internal components comprising a processorand memory surrounded by a housing of the computing device, and whereinthe logic executable to run a simulation that adopts the recommendation.